1
: situated on the inside : inner
2
a
: of or relating to the mind or spirit
inward peace
b
: absorbed in one's own mental or spiritual life : introspective
3
: marked by close acquaintance : familiar
4
: directed toward the interior
variants
or inwards
1
: toward the inside, center, or interior
2
: toward the inner being
Synonyms
Examples of inward in a Sentence
Adjective
moved towards the inward room for more privacy
he's more inward with the president than most members of the cabinet
Adverb
The window faces inward toward the courtyard.
He turned his attention inward.
Recent Examples on the Web
Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 10 Nov. 2023
Indeed, Blighty’s inward investment drum has been beating long and loudly with a focus on studios and streamers, who drove a majority of the U.K.’s near £5 billion ($6 billion) of qualifying film and High End TV productions in 2022.
—Angus Finney, Variety, 30 Oct. 2023
But in German filmmaker Wim Wender’s latest feature, the Tokyo-set drama Perfect Days, the 68-year-old actor may have found the most natural vehicle yet for his persona’s unique blend of elegance and inward dignity.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Oct. 2023
Intimate and vocal, sharing and becoming an inward moment, as no other form of entertainment can.
—Pino Gagliardi, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Sep. 2023
For some liberal-leaning Chinese, the downgrade of English is symbolic of China’s inward turn and a tightening of ideological control.
—Nectar Gan, CNN, 21 Sep. 2023
Marilyn Lovell, whose husband commanded the troubled Apollo 13 spacecraft and whose outward stoicism and inward agony epitomized the emotional rigors of the space program for astronauts’ wives, died Aug. 27 in Lake Forest, Ill.
—Michael S. Rosenwald, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2023
When their fuel for nuclear fusion is exhausted the outward pressure that supports massive stars against the inward force of gravity also halts.
—Robert Lea, Popular Mechanics, 13 Apr. 2023
Read full article In both personality and leadership style, Cox has an inward focus.
—Sean Cotter, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2023
Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023
The play examines what happens when seething anger is turned inward, as well as the desire for reconciliation.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Nov. 2023
Advertisement Mays, who speaks deliberately, turned inward, searching for the right words.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2023
The hostile climate led many African American communities to turn inward and form their own schools, newspapers, musical groups, religious groups, and social groups.
—Melissa Noel, Essence, 6 Nov. 2023
They’ll be written by young adults willing to do the hard work of looking inward in order to go off script.
—Dan Lichterman, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2023
Disgusted with the political process and chastened by a chaotic withdrawal from a bruising 20-year war, many said their impulse was to turn inward, away from mounting international tensions and toward problems, such as inflation, that are closer to home.
—Jack Healy, New York Times, 21 Oct. 2023
The essay offers applicants a vital provocation to look inward through a laborious process of inspiration, perspiration, and revision.
—Dan Lichterman, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2023
As a result, since 1991, most administrations have looked inward and focused on domestic issues over international ones.
—Joshua Shifrinson, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2023
Angelo Flaccavento, CNN, 17 Jan. 2023
One hundred feet of skid marks scarred the highway, and cracks throughout the vehicle’s windshield, according to an expert from Ford Motor Co., appeared to have been caused by simultaneous inward and outward forces.
—Alexis Oatman, cleveland, 13 Jan. 2023
The first image Karkai sold as an N.F.T. depicted a woman with two overlapping facial expressions, one outward-facing and neutral, one inward and downcast.
—Molly Fischer, The New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2022
Some destinations currently require masks for inward and outward bound flights -- such as the US, where the mask mandate is set to be in place until at least April 18.
—Francesca Street, CNN, 15 Mar. 2022
Inflammation of the eyelids (blepharitis), inflammation of the surfaces of the eye, and the inward or outward turning of eyelids can also trigger dry eye, per the AAO.
—Jenny McCoy, Health.com, 14 Oct. 2021
Henry’s life pulsed between the inward and outward.
—BostonGlobe.com, 8 July 2021
However, adopting a mindset that encompasses centrifugal and centripetal forces will help HR managers maintain balance on the fulcrum of inward and outward trends.
—Naira Velumyan, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2021
For most Jews, Hanukkah has always been an inward, at-home, after-work-on-a-Wednesday sort of affair.
—Rachel Levin, SFChronicle.com, 9 Dec. 2020
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Adjective
Along with male and female, there is the outward and inward focus of the figures, and a sharp distinction between gathering and consuming among the women at the spring, and processing and performing among the male musicians.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 10 Nov. 2023
Indeed, Blighty’s inward investment drum has been beating long and loudly with a focus on studios and streamers, who drove a majority of the U.K.’s near £5 billion ($6 billion) of qualifying film and High End TV productions in 2022.
—Angus Finney, Variety, 30 Oct. 2023
But in German filmmaker Wim Wender’s latest feature, the Tokyo-set drama Perfect Days, the 68-year-old actor may have found the most natural vehicle yet for his persona’s unique blend of elegance and inward dignity.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Oct. 2023
Intimate and vocal, sharing and becoming an inward moment, as no other form of entertainment can.
—Pino Gagliardi, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Sep. 2023
For some liberal-leaning Chinese, the downgrade of English is symbolic of China’s inward turn and a tightening of ideological control.
—Nectar Gan, CNN, 21 Sep. 2023
Marilyn Lovell, whose husband commanded the troubled Apollo 13 spacecraft and whose outward stoicism and inward agony epitomized the emotional rigors of the space program for astronauts’ wives, died Aug. 27 in Lake Forest, Ill.
—Michael S. Rosenwald, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2023
When their fuel for nuclear fusion is exhausted the outward pressure that supports massive stars against the inward force of gravity also halts.
—Robert Lea, Popular Mechanics, 13 Apr. 2023
Read full article In both personality and leadership style, Cox has an inward focus.
—Sean Cotter, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2023
Adverb
Here, the examination turns inward to your internal drivers—the underlying reasons and incentives that prompt you to take action, make decisions, and lead in a particular manner.
—Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023
The play examines what happens when seething anger is turned inward, as well as the desire for reconciliation.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Nov. 2023
Advertisement Mays, who speaks deliberately, turned inward, searching for the right words.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2023
The hostile climate led many African American communities to turn inward and form their own schools, newspapers, musical groups, religious groups, and social groups.
—Melissa Noel, Essence, 6 Nov. 2023
They’ll be written by young adults willing to do the hard work of looking inward in order to go off script.
—Dan Lichterman, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2023
Disgusted with the political process and chastened by a chaotic withdrawal from a bruising 20-year war, many said their impulse was to turn inward, away from mounting international tensions and toward problems, such as inflation, that are closer to home.
—Jack Healy, New York Times, 21 Oct. 2023
The essay offers applicants a vital provocation to look inward through a laborious process of inspiration, perspiration, and revision.
—Dan Lichterman, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2023
As a result, since 1991, most administrations have looked inward and focused on domestic issues over international ones.
—Joshua Shifrinson, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2023
Noun
Sometimes the inward and the outward can make for an interesting blend, converging in a house party feel of sorts.
—Angelo Flaccavento, CNN, 17 Jan. 2023
One hundred feet of skid marks scarred the highway, and cracks throughout the vehicle’s windshield, according to an expert from Ford Motor Co., appeared to have been caused by simultaneous inward and outward forces.
—Alexis Oatman, cleveland, 13 Jan. 2023
The first image Karkai sold as an N.F.T. depicted a woman with two overlapping facial expressions, one outward-facing and neutral, one inward and downcast.
—Molly Fischer, The New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2022
Some destinations currently require masks for inward and outward bound flights -- such as the US, where the mask mandate is set to be in place until at least April 18.
—Francesca Street, CNN, 15 Mar. 2022
Inflammation of the eyelids (blepharitis), inflammation of the surfaces of the eye, and the inward or outward turning of eyelids can also trigger dry eye, per the AAO.
—Jenny McCoy, Health.com, 14 Oct. 2021
Henry’s life pulsed between the inward and outward.
—BostonGlobe.com, 8 July 2021
However, adopting a mindset that encompasses centrifugal and centripetal forces will help HR managers maintain balance on the fulcrum of inward and outward trends.
—Naira Velumyan, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2021
For most Jews, Hanukkah has always been an inward, at-home, after-work-on-a-Wednesday sort of affair.
—Rachel Levin, SFChronicle.com, 9 Dec. 2020
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inward.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Old English inweard (akin to Old High German inwert), from in + -weard -ward entry 1
First Known Use
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adverb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of inward was
before the 12th century
Dictionary Entries Near inward
Cite this Entry
“Inward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inward. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
inward
2 of 2 adverb
variants
or inwards
1
: toward the inside, center, or interior
2
: toward the mind or spirit
More from Merriam-Webster on inward
Nglish: Translation of inward for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of inward for Arabic Speakers
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